Chapter 1

The Larson Pack’s annual gathering was in full swing, a celebration of our pack’s strength and unity. I stood at the edge of the grand hall, watching as my mate, Mark Woods, Alpha of the Woods Pack, strode in with his Beta, Zaylee Stone, on his arm. The sight of them together, so casually intimate, made my stomach churn.

I had been relegated to the far corner of the hall, seated among the Omegas—a deliberate slight that didn’t go unnoticed by the other pack members. The whispers followed me like shadows, their laughter sharp and cutting.

“Luna Priscilla,” Zaylee sneered as she approached, her voice dripping with mockery. “You should consider yourself lucky to even be at this gathering, given your current status. And you think you should be standing with the Alpha?”

I gave her a wry smile and turned to face Mark, my voice steady despite the simmering anger. “Are you saying that as the former Luna of the Woods Pack, I don’t deserve a place by your side?”

Mark’s dark eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward, his alpha aura pressing down on me. It was a subtle reminder of his dominance, one he knew I couldn’t easily defy.

Zaylee continued to glare at me, her disdain evident. “Priscilla Larson? Is that any way to address the Alpha? Do you think I couldn’t have you removed from this gathering on the spot?”

I stepped forward, my own aura flaring in defiance, and slapped her hard across the face. The sound echoed through the hall, drawing the attention of everyone present. I turned to Mark, my voice cold. “Is this how you’ve chosen to treat me after just two weeks away from the Woods Pack?”

Mark’s jaw tightened, and he moved closer, his anger palpable. “Priscilla, what do you think you’re doing? Today is a celebration of our pack’s strength. If you need to argue, take it outside. Don’t embarrass us here.”

I chuckled, folding my arms and leaning against the edge of the table. “Is it because this pack has nothing to do with me? Or do you find my presence embarrassing next to yours?”

A strange, conflicted look crossed his face, and then he slammed his fist on the table, the sound reverberating through the hall. “Priscilla Larson, let me be clear: yes, you are an embarrassment to me! If we hadn’t been mated for the sake of the pack, I would have rejected you already. I have no feelings for you whatsoever.”

The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, his words dripping with contempt. I regretted ever agreeing to this union.

But I merely fanned away his alpha aura, still managing a smile. “If I’m so insignificant, why even invite me to this gathering? Surely just to have a spat with me?”

Though I’d been dismissed from my position as Luna, I still held significant influence within the pack. Just because I wasn’t standing by Mark’s side didn’t mean I didn’t deserve to be treated with respect.

Yet, he chose this important occasion to humiliate me; there must be more to it.

As I finished speaking, Zaylee, still clutching her face from my slap, started shouting again. “Larson, are you so dense that you can’t even see what’s happening?”

Mark cut her off with a wave of his hand, his voice sharp. “Why bother explaining anything to someone like her? She wouldn’t understand even if you did. She’s been riding on being my mate to maintain her position. But in reality, she’s weak and unremarkable. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have agreed to this mating just because my father insisted.”

Hearing his shameless words nearly made me ill. All the pack’s alliances and victories were secured through my connections and influence. Even our dominance over neighboring packs was achieved because of my strategies.

Do I really need to fight in every battle to prove my worth?

While he lounges in his alpha’s den, what has he truly accomplished?

I found his arrogance amusing, but Mark seemed to believe he’d struck a nerve.

“Priscilla Larson, if you apologize to my Beta now, I might let you keep your place in this pack,” he said, his tone condescending. “Otherwise, I will have you cast out, and someone like you wouldn’t survive as a rogue.”

I gave a cold laugh, meeting his eyes to see if there was any hidden motive, but all I saw was sheer ignorance. “Don’t forget, I’m still a member of the Larson Pack,” I said, staring straight at him. “And my family’s influence extends far beyond the Woods Pack.”

I’d intended to let the past be and used my connections to help him strengthen the pack. But why has he been so combative lately?

Once or twice, I could dismiss it as a passing frustration. But to humiliate me, his mate, on such a significant occasion?

The Woods Pack better grasp the real reason behind their success—I’m beginning to think they haven’t a clue.

“Priscilla Larson, you’re only half-right,” he sneered, convinced his plan had worked. “You are indeed a member of the Larson Pack, but your influence here is negligible.”

I scoffed—so this was his long-planned scheme.

“You accuse me of being weak, of relying on our mating for my position, fine. But use that brain of yours, this pack’s dominance—do you really believe you achieved it all by yourself?”

Seeing I neither backed down nor softened, Mark grew more agitated. “Priscilla, learn your place, even in your dreams! The pack’s strength is due to my leadership, not your so-called influence.”

I nodded, acknowledging his point. “Indeed, your charade as Alpha was necessary. But for the Woods Pack to rise from near-collapse to its current standing, it’s precisely because of my ‘idle chatter’ outside.”

As soon as I finished, the people around us began to murmur. I glanced around; the pack members who once respected me as Luna were now casting disdainful glances.

“Is she deluding herself into thinking she’s contributed anything?”

“The Alpha gave her a position out of sentiment, but she’s really overstepping.”

“Claiming the pack would be nothing without her—what a joke!”

I’m not one to hold grudges, but their words had become intolerable. I sighed.

“What Woods Pack, what dominance? After tonight, they might all disappear.”